Somersworth man will plead guilty in Epping Market Basket robbery

BRENTWOOD — A 32-year-old man has agreed to plead guilty to charges that he robbed a Market Basket store in Epping by handing a clerk a threatening note and fleeing with cash.

Eric Dubois, of Somersworth, is expected to face up to 2 to 4 years in state prison when he appears before a judge to change his plea on a felony robbery charge.

Dubois struck the plea deal roughly two months after being indicted on the charge by a Rockingham County grand jury.

He is expected to appear before a judge to change his plea and face sentencing on Sept. 5.

Prosecutors say Dubois entered the Route 125 store on Feb. 9 and handed a clerk a threatening note that read: “Stay calm. Give me all of your money or I will start hurting people starting with you. MAKE IT FAST.”

The store manager got the car’s license plate number, prompting police to issue a bulletin to area towns, according to police.

A Barrington police officer spotted Dubois’ vehicle after the robbery, but the driver refused to stop, police said. Dubois continued to flee from the officer until he crashed on Route 125 in Rochester. He was arrested at the scene.

Dubois is expected to apply to have a related case in Strafford County regarding the car crash heard in its drug court, according to court records.

He faces charges of reckless operation, reckless conduct, disobeying a police officer and driving after suspension in connection with the crash.

Dubois made off with $163 in cash from the robbery. Police recovered almost all the money — $158 — from the vehicle.

Dubois later admitted during an interview with police that he passed the note to the store clerk and claimed that he was going through tough financial times.

Police recovered evidence linking Dubois to the robbery, including a blue hooded sweatshirt he allegedly wore and a piece of an inspection report that was used to make the note.